Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All,

I have had increasingly frequent intermittent starting problems which I am convinced is down to the ignition system. First inclination is leads, Coil and dizzy cap but I replaced the coil previously with the supposed correct one and it blew up my points, turning out to be too high voltage. Coupled with this the leads didn't fit at all (except the king lead) due to the fact that the plug ends had metal shrouds where as mine are solid rubber that fit snug on the plugs which protrude from the block. Looking around, all the available leads for a 1.9 petrol 1986 have metal shrouds which make me concerned that somehow the whole lot is wrong! The engine is a recon transplant that was done before I got the van... The engine code has been scrubbed and replaced with a VW rework stamp with a code of 496 but the case is definitely DG or DF based on trawling 'engine identification' posts on here. This leads me to be confident that leads for this era of 1.9 petrol engines should fit! Anyone out there recognise this set up and anyone with a mid 80s 1.9 petrol got some images that I can compare?

The Ht leads just look like the rubber covered version.
More importantly the distributor should have electronic ignition that is why the correct coil burnt out the points.
What distributor is actually fitted is it a 009?

Thanks for the reply! I naively hadn't even considered the distributor might be wrong, I don't know what it is... Should it have the part number embossed if it is a 009?
Any idea where I might find replacement rubber leads?

Wizard42 wrote:Should it have the part number embossed if it is a 009?

Yes the number is embossed into the body, 009 refers to the last three digits.


The HT leads are dependant on the type of distributor cap and coil fitted I would wait till we have sorted out which distributor is fitted.

Hmm, I am fearing a can of worms.
The distributor is not a 009, codes are 043905205L (VW Code) and 0231168015 (Bosch Code)

VW discontinued in 2001 but state it was used in vehicles up to 1986, Bosch website identifies it as a Type 2 Distributor up to '79... also reflected on VW Heritage; a more comprehensive list of Air-cooled engines and nothing later than '79.

I am thinking that given the apparent age of the components, they came with the engine transplant rather than retained from the original. Without being able to confidently ID the engine I'm not sure which way to go... try and replace the existing parts like for like or revert to the correct ignition for the van....

Cheers,
Phil.

Wizard42 wrote:Hmm, I am fearing a can of worms.
.

Looks like it may be.
The distributor is for a late bay AS twin hot spot 1.6l. Wrong advance curve for a WBX and depending on what carb you have (Solex or Pierburg) too much advance from the vac can at idle.

Hi Wizard.

IF Big Herb and yourself determine that you have a DF engine and/or Solex carb, I do have a distributor here that was working on my van until recently.
I haven't posted in for-sale section yet, and won't want much for it.

Can't help much ref diagnostics, but thought I would post this up so you know you can get one if needed. Also have a Solex carb spare, but reading your thread and replies, it seems you have diagnosed an electrical issue.

No pressure - it's there if you need it.
Good luck.